Just English
Unit VI
ATTORNEYS IN THE USA
TASK 1. Read the following text
Growth of the Profession

Today, the number of lawyers in the United States exceeds 675,000. This translates to one lawyer for every 364 people. Twenty-five years ago, there was one lawyer for every 700 people. The rate at which the legal profession is growing will probably continue to outpace rate of population growth through the end of the century.
Why is a career in law so popular? Market forces account for some of the allure. We know that in 1984 the average salary of experienced lawyers was 88,000 dollars. If we could include in this average the salaries of all lawyers, whatever their experience, the figure would probably be much lower, certainly well below the 108,000 dollars average salary of physicians. But lawyers' salaries are still substantially greater than those of many other professionals. Salaries for newly minted lawyers heading for elite New York law firms exceeded 71,000 dollars in 1987; some firms offered additional bonuses for clerkship experience in the federal courts and state supreme courts. The glamour of legal practice strengthens the attraction of its financial rewards.
There are other reasons for the popularity of the legal profession and the unquenchable demand for legal services. Materialism and individualism in American culture encourage dispute. Federalism gives separate legal systems for each state plus the national government. Advertising can now create demand for legal services, too. Finally, the principles of separation of powers and of checks and balances make governing difficult and sometimes impossible. When political institutions act, they often are forced to compromise, deferring critical issues to the courts. Pluralist democracy operates when groups are able to press their interests on, and even challenge, the government. The expression of group demands in a culture that encourages lawsuits thrusts on the courts all manner of disputes and interests. Is it any wonder that America needs all the lawyers it can train?
TASK 2. Find in the text the English equivalents for the words below:

TASK 3. Answer the questions

1. Why is the number of lawyers in the US increasing?
2. What factors create demand for legal services?
TASK 5. Paraphrase the following expressions
a) faithful execution of laws;
b) under somebody's authority;
c) consent;
d) appointee;
e) to relinquish;
f) amount of litigation;
g) to prosecute;
h) elected office;
i) inside traders;
j) press coverage;
k) to harbour political ambitions;
l) to launch a career.
TASK 6. Answer the questions

1. What is an attorney in the US? How is he appointed?
2. When does an attorney resign?
3. What does the number of assistant attorneys in federal judicial districts depend on?
4. What makes attorneys so important in American communities?
5. How do attorneys in the US realize their political ambitions?
6. What example in the text proves that US attorneys harbour political ambitions?


Revision

TASK 1. Complete the following sentences with the correct names of courts
A.
The most common type of Law Court in Great Britain is the (a) _____ court. More serious criminal cases then go to (b) _____ court. Civil cases are dealt with in (c)______ courts. Appeals are heard by (d) ______ courts. The highest court of appeal in England and Wales (e) _____. Certain cases may be referred to (f) _____ in Luxembourg.
The legal system also includes (g) ______ courts (which deal with offenders under seventeen) and (h) ______ courts (which investigate violent, sudden or unnatural deaths). There are also administrative (i)_____ which deal with professional standards, disputes between individuals, disputes between individuals and government departments.

B.
1. Most litigation in the US occurs in _______ courts.
2. The ______ Court was created by the Constitution, all other _______ courts were created by Congress.
3. Cases are primarily heard in the courts of ________ jurisdiction.
4. At the bottom of the system of American courts are _________ courts. In the middle there are ______.
5. To appeal means to take a case to a ____ court. They review cases that have been decided in _____ courts.

TASK 2. Complete the following sentences with the words and phrases from the box, using them in the correct form.
to plead guilty; attorney; to recover; barrister; to cross-examine; civil action; to inquire into; advocacy; to sentence; at random; solicitor; the dock.
1. If a person in Britain has a legal problem, he will go and see a _____ . In the US, he will go and see a _____ . 2. A case of divorce is a ____ . 3. If you want to ____ your debts, your case will be heard in the County Court. 4. _____ is an expert in the interpretation of law. He is also an expert on _______ (the art of presenting cases in Court). 5. Coroners who have medical or legal training _________ violent or unnatural deaths. 6. A jury consists of twelve jurors who are ordinary people chosen ____ from the Electoral Register. 7. In a Magistrates' Court accused is placed in the ______ . 8. A defence lawyer in court _____ the witnesses. 9. A judge _____ the accused if he _____ .

TASK 3. Give definitions of the following words and expressions
a) to allege; b) forgery; c) to put on probation; d) witness-box; e) accomplice; f) appeal;
g) bankruptcy; h) a gaol; i) litigation; j) damages.

TASK 4. Complete the following sentences by substituting the words and expressions in brackets for their synonyms
1. The president of the US has the right to (refuse the assent of) a bill.
2. To become a law a bill must not only be adopted in both houses of Parliament, but also get (the queen's approval).
3. A bill is first (put forward) in the House of Representatives, then referred to one of the standing committees which organizes (debates) on it and may (agree on it), (change it) or shelve the draft.
4. A bill can still become a law only if it is (enacted) by (the greater number of the members) (2/3) in both houses of Congress.
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